Preparation

Legolas and Aragorn looked open mouthed at Elrond until finally the elf spoke. "What? We are not going to pretend to be women and even if we were what good would that do?"

Elrond sighed. "You are going to be going undercover as women. Legolas you will take the place of Queen Githil and Aragorn will be one of her hand maidens. We will send the real Githil to a safe house and have Glorifindel and the twins guard her just to make sure she will not be harmed."

"Ada." Aragorn's voice was eerily calm. "There is no way, in all of Arda that you are going to get me into a dress."

"Estel, this is for your kingdom. The lives of many people may rest on your agreeing."

"But… but… it is a dress… it is going to be itchy… and… and hot…"

"Actually, it's smooth and feels like it will be rather comfortable." Legolas said, running his hands along the scarlet fabric.

"You are not helping."

"Look at it this way, Estel; I'm sure that Lady Arwen would be most impressed if you were to do this. Think of how brave you are… willing to do anything to help others." Said Legolas.

"Well… I suppose if you put it that… way… and it is for a good cause." Aragorn looked from Legolas who was still fawning over the fabric to Elrond who was looking at him hopefully.

"Alright… Alright… I'll do it."

"Aye, so will I." Legolas agreed handing the gown back to Elrond who set it gently on the bed. "When do we need to begin?"

"Tomorrow. Tonight, I will get Githil to a safe house and get Frenit his own room… Do not let anyone know what we are doing, everyone is a suspect, remember that." With that he left to see to his guests leaving Legolas and Aragorn alone in the room.

Aragorn sighed and sat down on the bed looking over the mess on the floor. "Oh, Valar, Legolas what have we gotten ourselves into?"

"Cross dressing?" The elf sat beside his friend.

"Very funny, you know what I mean. This is not going to be easy, you know, we are not only going to have to dress like women but we need to talk and act like them too."

"That is not so hard. I have two sisters and they do it alright."

"That is because they are girls…" He sighed and looked at a long blue night dress draped over the floor. He glared at it for a moment then, deciding that it was, in fact, the cause of all of his distress; he kicked it sending it flying across the room and landing in a heap.

"Aragron!" Legolas got up and headed to where the dress lay. "Don't kick the dresses they could snag on something!"

"And you care why?"

"Because I am the one that must wear them and do not fancy having dirty holes in my clothing."

"You are hopeless."

"And you are ruining my gowns."

Aragorn groaned and rested his chin on his hand, absently stroking his beard. "AH!" He shot up right looking frantic.

"What is wrong?" Legolas dropped the night gown and hurried to his friend's side. "Do you hurt in some way?"

"MY BEARD!"

"Your beard hurts?"

"NO… I WILL HAVE TO SHAVE IT OFF!"

"Oh…" Legolas sat down where his Aragorn had been. "Well… you can grow it back…"

"But… but it is my beard… I can not just abandon it…"

"Estel, it is hair."

"Would you be upset if I shaved your head?"

"Point taken." The elf stood up and looked at Aragorn who was admiring the facial hair in a nearby mirror.

"It is for a good cause, and you can grow it back later. Now come, you must be tired."

"Aye… I am…" He slung an arm around Legolas' shoulders and together they walked out of the room enjoying their last night as men.

The next day seemed to arrive all too early to Aragorn. He had been restless at night and worried about the day to come. He finally managed to drag himself out of bed and into Legolas' room where the elf was hurriedly braiding his hair.

"Good Morning, Estel!" he greeted cheerfully.

"What is so good about it?" The ranger asked leaning against the door frame.

"You know you could be a bit more positive about this."

"Legolas, listen to yourself. In a few hours we are going to be shoved into corsets, thrown into gowns, and told to be women. I really do not see the bright side."

"Well, neither do I, but there is no need to go around sulking about it. What is going to happen will happen, and it is your own fault for agreeing to do it so stop complaining and hand me that string."

Aragorn did as he was told and soon the Elf had tied the braid and stood up heading to the door. "Come, Lord Elrond said that we are supposed to meet him in his quarters before breakfast." With that he left leaving a grumpy Aragron to follow suit.

They quickly arrived to the Lord's bedroom and knocked quietly until they were let in. What they saw nearly made them faint. Lord Elrond stood there moving about a dress shoving pins, here and there, checking the skirts, tying the ribbons, and generally acting as a seamstress.

"Ah, there you are I was wondering when you would get there." He set down the pins and motioned for them to move forward. "I was just finishing up a dress for later. Now, we need to get you to up and ready for breakfast so no one knows what is going on. Legolas, come here a moment." The elf in question looked nervously to Aragorn but did as he was told.

"Err… what should I do first…" He asked eyeing the dress with varying levels of discontent.

Elrond looked at him for a moment before answering. "You have no shape."

"Excuse me?"

"You need a shape. Women have shapes; they are round in certain area's that we are not."

"I know that but how, pray tell, are you going to give me said shape."

Elrond turned around before shoving a corset at him. "Put this on. We will stuff the top."

"What!"

"Remember, Legolas, look on the bright side." Aragorn smirked as Legolas glared daggers at him.

Finally he sighed and removed his night shirt squeezing into the already tight corset and under skirts that went with it.

"Alright, Estel, I need you to take a hold of these strings and pull as hard as you can. Legolas, hold onto my arm."

"Why would I need to-UGH" Legolas lurched forward grabbing onto Elrond and nearly knocking him over as Aragorn pulled the corset.

"Okay just a little more."

"I cannot breathe…"

"Then it is working… pull again, Estel." This time Legolas grabbed a hold of the bed post as he was pulled back, efficiently snapping off the wooden head to one of the posters.

"Air…"

"Legolas." Elrond patted his back. "Breathe up and down not out and in."

"That… is not… physically… possible…" He panted out.

"Here shove this down the front of the corset and get your dress on." Elrond quickly threw him some cloth and motioned to a green dress lying on the bed. "It is your turn, Estel. Sit down. We must shave your beard." Legolas shot him a sympathetic look before heading behind the dividing screen in the corner to change.

Aragorn whimpered but did as he was told and sat down as Elrond handed him a razor and bowl of water. "Be quick about it we do not have all day." Aragorn started and Elrond went back to work on the dress as a silence fell along the room, however it didn't last long and was soon interrupted by a series of grunts coming from behind the divider followed by a series of Elvish cussing.

"Are you alright Legolas?" Elrond called ignoring Aragorn's snickering.

"No!"

"What's wrong?"

There was a long silence before the elf's muffled voice rang out again. "I'm stuck."

Aragorn doubled over and Elrond had to suppress a giggle as Legolas walked out with his arms sticking straight up and out of the gown and his head still down in the fabric.

"It's not funny! Stop laughing and help me!"

Elrond stepped forward and with a sharp tug sent the dress down ward revealing a rather frazzled looking prince of Mirkwood. "Is it to tight?" He asked.

Legolas stood for a moment as testing it out before his eyes widened and he grasped at his stomach. "I can not breathe…"

"Up and down."

"Not… possible…"

"Try it…"

He glared at Elrond before taking a shaky breath upwards nearly popping the seams of the corset.

"Now down."

Legolas did so, just barley.

"Good now braid all of your hair… into one braid… and I will get your crown in a moment. Are you done yet, Estel?"

Aragorn turned around still chuckling but now with no beard. "Yes."

"Good. You don't need to put a corset on, the hand maidens are a bit thicker than Githil, stuff your shirt and get into your dress." He tossed a rather nasty looking brown servant's dress and apron before turning to Legolas and beginning to carefully adjust a golden crown to sit upright on his head.

"Ada… this… this… this is ugly… Legolas, his… his dress is pretty…" Aragorn seemed to notice the flaw in his words. "Err… not that… I would… care or anything… but doesn't Githil give her handmaidens pretty dresses?"

Legolas smirked through his rough breathing. "No… I have… seen them… and… they … are nothing… like her gowns…"

The ranger seemed slightly put out. "Oh." He turned and went behind the divider and began to change.

Elrond adjusted the crown once more before stepping back to admire Legolas. The prince sighed and looked at himself in the mirror. He had to admit it but he did greatly resemble Queen Githil.

"Estel… Estel hurry up breakfast is in but a few minutes." Legolas stood up and walked to the divider where what sounded almost like a pained whimper sounded.

"I'm not coming out." An upset voice answered.

"Why not?"

"Because."

"Because why?"

"Because… Because you're…."

"I'm what?"

"You're… You're… You're prettier than me!"

"Excuse me?"

"You are… with your gown and your hair… and you actually look like a girl… I am… I am ugly… I am bulky… and… and… frumpy… and… flat chested!"

Legolas couldn't hold back a smile. "Estel… are you insinuating that you wish for breasts…"

"No… but… but… you're prettier…"

"Estel, I'm sure your beautiful… come out so I may see." Legolas cooed. After a few grumbles the ranger stepped out… and he hadn't been wrong. His brown dress was much too large even though he was already bulky for a woman. His hair was stringy and hastily pulled back and because of how wide his chest was the cloth hadn't bunched as it had as Legolas' thin form and as a result he was very flat.

"Oh… Estel you look wonderful!" Legolas confirmed setting a gloved hand on his shoulder.

"Why do you get gloves… and jewelry…? And chest!"

"Because, I am a queen."

"Humph…"

Elrond looked on the two highly amused. Despite Aragorn's rather bulky appearance they really did look much like the people they were meant to. "You two should really get down to breakfast. Remember, Estel, you are Legolas' servant not his…err… her friend and you will dine with the servants. Legolas, you are, first a foremost, King Frenit's wife. Return affection whole heartedly. And use all of your table manners and act as much as possible like your sisters. Mimic their walk, the way they hold their utensils anything you can mimic try. You are off now good bye."

With that the two quickly nodded and left for their first day as women.

Author's Note: Hello, Hello! Well I got that up pretty quick! I hope that you liked it. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns feel free to leave them in a review and I'll answer them best I can! Thanks for Reading!

Fiery Mango